A late good morning. It has been a busy morning, so I'll just have black coffee, please.
I'll check back later today -- after the busyness goes away.
California Amtrak -- the distant hills almost make this look like a model railroad backdrop:
York1 John
Good Afternoon Diners. Zoe, a Porterhouse Steak, medium-rare, a baked sweet potato, and a glass of sweet tea please.
Has not been as productive of a weekend to this point that I had hoped for, but not for lack of trying. Just a bunch of fits and starts on projects. Oh well, all bits that had to be figured out.
Mike
Our internet service was down for a couple of days, and it is still not up to speed. What a PITA!! I am amazed at how much a part of my life the internet has become! Every time I turned around there was something that I wanted to do that involved the internet.
The outage extended all across Canada and caused some serious issues, and questions! Who designed a system that could be taken down so easily and have such a wide effect? It affected banking, airlines, all manner of businesses and millions of people. Even the cell phones on this system were dead. Now I know why I keep a wad of cash in the house.
Enough ranting!
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
hon30critter Our internet service was down for a couple of days, and it is still not up to speed. What a PITA!! I am amazed at how much a part of my life the internet has become! Every time I turned around there was something that I wanted to do that involved the internet. The outage extended all across Canada and caused some serious issues, and questions! Who designed a system that could be taken down so easily and have such a wide effect? It affected banking, airlines, all manner of businesses and millions of people. Even the cell phones on this system were dead. Now I know why I keep a wad of cash in the house. Enough ranting! Cheers!! Dave
Dave, I have a lot of connections with some very senior Government officials and can tell you there is a massive cyber war going on with Russia. There is always a back and forth with them on the WWW but since the war with Ukraine started it has become a full-blown battle.
Keeping cash on hand is always a good idea, we always have $1000.00 cash in the kitchen cupboard. Also, you should have water on hand as they are always trying to attack the utilities. I have 150 liters stored even though I can walk across the street to the creek if it came right down to it. We also have water purification tablets on hand even though a drop of bleach would also suffice.
Just ask yourself where you would get water if it stopped coming out of the tap? If you can't walk to a supply like a creek or a lake you had better think about that.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Well I wrote ten paragraphs that vaporized when I clicked "submit reply".
Too tired to retype everything.
Bye... Ed
BATMANJust ask yourself where you would get water if it stopped coming out of the tap?
I would go to Walt Disney World.
gmpullmanWell I wrote ten paragraphs that vaporized when I clicked "submit reply".
That has not happened to me in a very long time.
Sorry.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
SeeYou190That has not happened to me in a very long time.
Same here, that's partly why I was complacent and didn't highlight and copy all my text before clicking "Submit Your Reply" which I used to do regularly. Sometimes clicking back would take me back to my reply window with ev erything still there but not so this time.
Compound that with using my model RR computer in leiu of my usual PC which has a toasted power supply thanks to games the utility company was playing last night. Both my UPS boxes were beeping wildly and the lights in the house were flickering along with nasty humming from the refrigerator. I'm surprised the PC power supply was the only thing that fried. Incoming voltage was swinging from 91 VAC to 121 VAC for about an hour around 2 AM. I turned in at 6 but my wife said more chirping and dim lights were happening at around 7.
I'm sure I can send a complaint to the power company and get their full attention
Amazon will have a new power supply delivered by noon today.
Water. Thankfully we have a good well and tasty, safe water. I've seen the bills that municipal water users get and I'm sure glad we have our own system. In a power outage I can run the well pump and water heater using a generator.
I've never sent myself a "boil order" to make the water safe.
Somehow in my original post I managed to put in a plug for Deer Park water here, once served exclusively on B&O Diners:
Deer Park by Edmund, on Flickr
Lucky kid!
Deer Park_zoom1 by Edmund, on Flickr
Internet security. I recall the hack that shutdown a pipeline from Louisiana to the north-east was it last year or the year before? Wrecked Havoc for sure.
Fortunately I've been spared any hacking or spyware on my network. A fellow I know is completely clueless when it comes to web security in spite of help and guidance from myself and another friend.
He told me once he bought $300 in Apple Itune cards at Walgreens. What for, I ask? I had to pay that to Microsoft for them to unlock my computer
Try as I may I couldn't convince him that Microsoft would never request Apple cards for any kind of "ransom". He was sure it was Microsoft because they answered the phone and said "Hello, this is Microsoft" when he called the phone number on the blue screen of death!
So it goes...
Regards, Ed
gmpullmanToo tired...
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Good morning, everyone.
I'll apologize first -- after my last post I did not check and I see that I was top of the page.
To make up for it, it's Sunday -- donut day -- so the donuts are on me. These are from Randy's in El Segundo, California.
Many years ago, I didn't believe the predictions that we would one day become a cashless society. Little did I know that even I would get to the point that I don't carry cash.
David and TF are missed in the diner. Hope their vacations are going well.
Another view of Amtrak's Surfliner in California:
We're leaving the house now. I'll try to check back later. Have a good Sunday, everyone.
BATMAN Dave, I have a lot of connections with some very senior Government officials and can tell you there is a massive cyber war going on with Russia. There is always a back and forth with them on the WWW but since the war with Ukraine started it has become a full-blown battle.
Three seconds of searching uncovered multiple news reports of Rogers blaming a software upgrade malfunction of their routers.
Good afternoon fellas. Chloe, a fried egg sandwich and some jalapeno potato chips please.
I added a dedicated circuit in the basement today for a new freezer to be on. Will add another, maybe next weekend, to power a second refrigerator. The new fridge will replace an OLD mini-fridge that we use for drinks, plus provide some more refrigerator space that is ALWAYS lacking around the holidays. It will be a nice upgrade for us! What's more, the new fridge will probably use less power than the old mini-fridge. Win-Win.
Some inconsiderate nincompoop shot off some loud fireworks at 3:20 this morning. Not many, just enough to wake up the neighborhood. That was pleasant. Hope that's the last of them we have to hear this year.
Have a nice rest of your Sunday everyone.
York1Many years ago, I didn't believe the predictions that we would one day become a cashless society.
And then you got married.
maxman York1 Many years ago, I didn't believe the predictions that we would one day become a cashless society.
York1 Many years ago, I didn't believe the predictions that we would one day become a cashless society.
Donuts. I used to have them once in a while, even after I slowed down because I was eating too much sweet, unhealthy stuff. Dunkin' was the dominant power in donuts in New England. But, they lost me completely when they caved in to the health crowd and changed their recipes to eliminate all the trans fat. Suddenly, I could no longer distinguish the donuts from the cardboard box. Since then, only about one a year, if that.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Good afternoon
Well, the day started off with a bearing disintegrating on the John Deere mower deck. I could not get the thing off so went to the FILs as he has mega heavy-duty mechanics tools in the shop, had both off in no time. Then went to John Deere and they were closed! Apparently, they are now closed Saturday and Sunday, they use to be open both days.
My daughter had been headhunted by the Feds at her University for some sensitive work that was supposed to have started at the end of April, but because the new facility was not ready she got put on hold. She finally starts this week and this place is in the middle of nowhere. She will drive my truck to work as there is no bus within miles of the place. She asked if we could drive there for a test run so she would be sure of where she was going on her first day. She has not driven in months and wanted a little practice anyway. We find the place and it was a large grey nondescript building surrounded by farms as far as the eye can see. I'm not sure if there is even a window in the place. We are supposed to say she works in public safety.
gmpullmanInternet security. I recall the hack that shutdown a pipeline from Louisiana to the north-east was it last year or the year before? Wrecked Havoc for sure.
We were out for dinner last night and my friend who is with the Feds was telling me of one of the cyber attacks we had opened the spillways on two huge dams in the country. Both spillways were closed but only after a significant amount of water had been released. Only one was picked up by the press and was put down to employee error which was not the case.
SeeYou190 BATMAN Just ask yourself where you would get water if it stopped coming out of the tap? I would go to Walt Disney World.
BATMAN Just ask yourself where you would get water if it stopped coming out of the tap?
York1Sacramento's Amtrak station:
I spent a pleasant, spring day back in 2003 at Sacramento:
Unlike Denver where I was threatened with arrest for having a camera the folks in Sacramento were quite friendly.
Cheers, Ed
Hey everrybody... it is "7-11" day.
Lets all have a Slurpee!
Honestly, I don't know if 7-11 even has Slurpees still. I hope they do.
I had a visit from an old friend on Sunday. We joined the Royal Canadian Air Cadets together 55 years ago! He brought me some really nice swag from the War Plane Heritage Museum in Mount Hope, Ontario. I now am the proud owner of two T shirts, one commemorating the 50th anniversary of the museum, and the other depicting a Mosquito on the occasion of one that was flown from the southern USA to the museum for their recent air show.
I don't generally wear cotton T shirts anymore, but I don't think I will have any problems with wearing these two.
Well, what do you know...
7-11 does still sell Slurpees, and July 11th is SLURPEE DAY!
I am going to go get one. I haven't had a Slurpee in at least 20 years.
I guess I'm old. We went to 7/11 to get ICEEs. Still like to get Slushes at Sonic, especially limeaide slushes. Get brain freeze every single time.
Good afternoon, everyone. It's close enough to happy hour that I hope the diner serves something that fits.
MisterBeasley, I have donuts once a week. Our church has coffee and donuts after the first service. When the kids were younger, I'd take all three girls every Saturday morning to Tastee Donuts. We'd sit at the counter and they'd get donuts and chocolate milk. Great memories.
Brent, I envy you being stuck at home with no car and no errands to run. Forced relaxation!
Ed, I didn't realize that photographing trains could get you in trouble. I've never had that happen.
Kevin, Slurpees! I haven't thought about them or had one in years. There used to be a 7-Eleven in my little town, but it closed years ago, and I don't remember seeing another one anywhere around here. In our part of the country, Casey's gas stations have kind of taken their place.
Bear, that's a pretty neat photo of the road tunnel. It looks almost like something in a fairy tale.
Dave, your time spent in the air cadets sounds neat. Was it just a coincindence that your commanding officer just died and your friend from the cadets visited you? Great memories.
I forgot that Lion is also on vacation. I'm getting the urge to go somewhere, too.
Hope everyone has a good Monday evening.
Beautiful Mt. Shasta in northern California:
Well, garsh. I never checked out this topic afore and figured I should do such. Very interesting stuff from all you fellow MR's out there. Last fall, the spousal unit and I traveled back to Colorado for my Class of '70 50/51 year reunion. After the reunion a large batch of us from my squadron, Seagrams 7, continued the reunion traveling to Breckinridge for several more days of fellowship and touring. This shot is me on one of the GP-9s used to pull the scenic Leadville train up the mountainside. We all had a most fantastic day of it!
This shot is me doin' whatever in front of the C&S 2-8-0 on display.
Don; Prez, CEO or whatever of the Wishram, Oregon and Western RR
Welcome to the Diner, Don! It's nice to have another 1970 graduate. We're having our 50th (52nd) reunion this fall.
Breckenridge is a great place to vacation. Lots of stuff to do in the summer.
Check back often! The diner waitresses aren't getting enough tips with some diners on vacation.
York1Dave, your time spent in the air cadets sounds neat. Was it just a coincindence that your commanding officer just died and your friend from the cadets visited you? Great memories.
Hi John,
Brian and I had been planning on getting together for some time, and we are going to do it again soon with a couple of other RCAC buddies and their spouses.
This time Brian visited me to fill me in on the details of the ceremony. I wasn't able to attend the funeral because I had an appointment with a vascular specialist which was scheduled 9 months ago. It turns out that it was probably a good thing that I wasn't there. The officiant, who is an Air Cadet officer and a lay minister, did a terrible job. He spent more time talking about himself and quoting scripture than talking about the deceased. It went on for so long that one of the attendees had to tell him to stop. I would have been furious with him for hijacking the service.
York1Slurpees! I haven't thought about them or had one in years. There used to be a 7-Eleven in my little town, but it closed years ago, and I don't remember seeing another one anywhere around here.
I went and bought a Cherry Slurpee before work. What a treat! It made me feel like a little kid again.
We have lots of 7-11s around here, and they keep building more.
Florida has also become infested with WAWAs in the past few years.
Good evening, I just came in from cutting the front 40. The Deere is up and running again like a top. I was sweating gallons putting it all back together in the 90F heat but it is rewarding when you turn the key and she runs perfectly. I bought some tools so I would not have to go visit the FIL and bother him.
I thoroughly enjoyed the trip to John Deere to get all the parts today, it was really warm, had all the windows open and the 20-mile drive through the farmlands was so relaxing. Lots of tractors in the fields and on the roads, of course, there are always idiots that get upset if a tractor slows them down on the road, it doesn't bother me in the least. Yes, we have A/C in our vehicles but I prefer all windows and sunroof open instead, must be the sports car guy in me. A lot of double yield planting goes on here so the farmers are hard at it. A stop at Tims for the ride home was icing on the cake.
I feel your pain during these long church services Dave, I just went through a whopper for the lady whose Estate I am looking after. Every time I thought it was over and I was about to bolt for the door and they would start singing again. I think the guys that wrote the music/Hymns should have gone to University and learned something about music composition. I realize these things likely started as chants but in this day and age, you would think they could turn it up a notch.
Talking about old friends, my oldest friend knocked on my door 62 years ago and asked if I could come out and play, we are still close. He retired from 40 years of teaching and makes a really good living in retirement acting bit parts in the movie industry and also sings and plays guitar in local cottage breweries.
My buddy and I would often rip down to California in the RX-7, Mount Shasta was always spectacular and signaled we had arrived even though we still had hours to go. I remember we pulled into Fresno at 0200hrs to a Denys as we were starving. There was gunfire going on off in the surrounding area and the waiter said it was a typical night. After we ate we went out to the parking lot and started talking to a cop and told him we were going over to the Holiday Inn for the night. He said do yourself a favour and just get back on the highway, you don't want any part of this place. So we pulled out of the Denys lot and had to stop at a light on the way to the freeway. A car full of gangsters pulled up beside us on the right and a carload of gangsters pulled up on the left. My friend watched right, he was driving, I watched left and we said, see a gun just say GO! We did not see a gun but when the light turned green we were on the freeway doing warp speed before those goons knew what hit them. The RX could do well in excess of 150MPH in a very few seconds.
I'll pass on the Slurpee, being me I looked up the nutritional value. They go from toxic waste to something I may have in a pinch. A Pina colada Slurpee sounds interesting and a pour of dark rum into it may make it quite enjoyable.
Don, don't be a stranger, the more the merrier.
I took a month off from working out as the old 65-year-old bones were complaining big time and I always listen to my body. I went for 10km fast walks but that was as strenuous as it got. After a week back at it I am in the top 20% of fitness for all ages. Meryl likes it, so it is worth the work for that alone.
Wife is leaving in the morning for a few dog shows and the daughter got put off a day and now starts with the Feds Wednesday morning. We are going to go do something together tomorrow as her hours will be long once she starts. She is expecting a pretty intense six weeks and then it is back to University with $12000.00 in her jeans. Even though she has not started officially yet, she has had some long conversations with her superiors to be.
Well, it is 2130hrs and it will be dark in an hour or so. A guitar and scotch on the patio are in order.
All the best to all.
Ah, Summer time.
Yesterday my post completely disappeared. Today it appears twice!
Sorry
Welcome, Don! Great to see a new face in the Diner
Then there's THIS!
Welcome to California!
York1Ed, I didn't realize that photographing trains could get you in trouble. I've never had that happen.
Oh, there was quite a dust-up post 911. Many of the RR fourms at the time were discussing it. For a while, IIRC the BNSF had some kind of "courtesy card" where you could be screened and given the OK to photograph in public, non-restricted areas but that plan didn't last long.
I was given quite the shake-down at Washington D.C. back in 2006 which turned into a crazy back-n-forth between me and the Amtrak peace officer.
None of this made any sense to me in a city full of tourists with cameras but I complied just the same. The young, public servant was just trying to do her job for what it was worth.
Great video Ed, loved the music.